Complications and Side Effects of ETS

In my own experience no life threatening complications have occurred. However, as the "key hole" surgery is performed in the chest there is always a possibility that the chest may be opened in the event of bleeding. NO OPERATION can ever be guaranteed to be 100% safe anywhere. Very rarely there may be an air leak from the lungs which may require a suction drain.

A few patients have prolonged pain or numbness in the arm. Permanent paralysis should not occur.

Horner's syndrome can occur between 1-3%. This is dropping of the eyelid and a smaller pupil, but no visual impairment. This may be transient or permanent. Wound or chest infection occurs in less than 5%

One side effect is excessive dryness of the hands. This may require use of moisturising creams. As the sweating is reduced from the head and neck approximately 80% of individuals complain of compensatory sweating elsewhere in the body such as the abomen, legs and feet. This is the body's way of keeping the internal temperature neutral at 37°C. The degree of compensatory sweating varies upon the individual. Gustatory sweating, which is sweating induced by smells and tastes occur in up to 30% of individuals but very few regard this as a major problem.

Although some patients may feel general fatigue, physical performance has been shown not to be reduced on stress testing despite the heart rate being reduced by 10%.